High protein pollo pesto recipe

Don't worry, this isn't one of those food blogs where the author has to tell you their life story before launching into it...

What I will say - extremely briefly - is this is a BANGER of a meal. Really balanced on the macros front, and a decent portion for the calories. Perfect for a post-gym refuel or when you just need a bowl of carby goodness.

Let's get straight into it:

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 250g dried, wholegrain penne pasta

• 1 medium onion

• Frozen broccoli

• Frozen green beans

• 2 tsps olive oil

• 3 chicken breasts, diced

• 150g light cream cheese

• 75g pesto

• 25g cathedral city high protein cheese, grated

• Splash of milk

• Salt, pepper, and mixed herbs to season.

• Optional - 1/2 deli kitchen greek flatbread per person.

Nutritional info (without flatbread)

• 702 kcal

• 64g protein (35%)

• 57g carbs (32%)

• 27g fat (33%)

  
  

• +103kcals per half flatbread (805 kcal total)

Method

1. Prep your ingredients - dice your chicken and 1 medium onion, and get a pan of salted water on the boil ready for your pasta. Weigh out your cream cheese, pesto and get the cheese grated too so you can save time later on.

2. Add your pasta to boiling water and cook to the packet instructions. In the meantime, fry your onion in a separate pan in the olive oil until golden brown. Then add the chicken into the pan and brown on all sides. Add your mixed herbs, salt and pepper.

3. In the last 4 minutes of your pasta's cooking time, add the frozen broccoli and green beans to the pot. There's no particular measurements for these - just add to your heart's content!

4. Drain your pasta and veg once cooked, and pop to one side whilst you make the sauce. In a small bowl, combine 150g cream cheese with 75g pesto and mix together with a fork. Add your sauce to the cooked chicken and onion mix, along with a splash of milk to loosen it up, and warm through.

5. Add your pasta and green veg into the sauce and give it a good mix until warmed through. Season further to taste, and add more milk if you need to loosen the mix up.

6. Serve your pasta with flatbread and 25g of grated high protein cheese.